Improvement in the art of laying street-mains



A. ONEILL.

Art of Laying Street-Mains.

Patented June 1, 1875.

W|TNESSES. gwam www nNvENTon.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0LITH.39&41 PARK PLAGEJLY.

STES

ANDREW ONEILL, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE ART OF LAVlNG STREET-MAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,942, dated June l,1875 g application filed October 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ./.XNDREWl ONEILL, of Ansonia, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Art of Laying Street-Mains, of which the following isa speciication:

This invention relates to means for laying and coupling street-mains ofany size; and it consists, primarily, in the employment of a screw orbayonet-joint coupling, in combination with a twisting-jack for makingthe same, the jack to be operated by hand-power for small mains and byhydraulic or other'power for larger mains, as may be required.

The invention consists, secondly, in a peculiar construction oftwisting-jack adapted to straddle and rest on the socket end of a laidsection, so as to hold the same while it twists the small end of thesucceeding section into it, occupying no more space in doing this thanis actually required by the width of the size of pipe which is beinglaid. Mains can thus be laid in narrower trenches than heretofore.Considerable saving in excavation is thus e'ected.

- trucks to be changeable, if desired, to adapt the jack to differentsizes of mains.

The invention consists, fthly,`in means for adjusting and supporting theouter end of a section while the coupling of its other end is beingeifected. By this means gas-mains can be laid with facility, so as to beperfectly level, as required, the work to be tested as it progresses bymeans of a spirit-level.

The invention consists, sixthly, in superior dead-ends for mains,adapted to be applied and removed with facility by means of thetwisting-jack.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side View, partly inlongitudinal section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, the pipe in section.Fig. 3 is an end elevation, showing the adjusting and supporting jack.Fig. 4 is a perspeclon the ratchet.

tive view of a T-branch, having a dead-end applied to one socket.

A represents a section of gas or water main already laid. Upon it isplaced a twistingjack, B, which is used in coupling the next section, C,to the section A, and so on from one section of gas or water main toanother along the line of excavation. The section C is laid in thetrench, there being fitted into its forward end a plug, D, having astem, Df, which hangs in the stirrup E of a jack, F. The latter has ascrew-stem and crank, as shown in Figs. l and 3, in order to adjust thesection E perfectly in line by raising and lowering the advanced end, asmay be required.

The coupling is a screw or bayonet joint, the entering portion of whichhas lugs, which catch behind inclined ledges in the socket, as show-n atG, Fig. l, and, as the entering section is rotated on its axis, draw theparts irmly together, and compress a gasket or packing-ring of leadarranged within a recess in the end of the socket. This may besupplemented by a run-joint, if desired 5 or, if it becomes necessary tocut a section, the latter may be resorted to.

The section C being laid in the trench, and i the end being introducedinto the socket of A, is to be rotated to cause the lugs of the enteringportion to draw firmly behind the inclined ledgesv of the socket, andcompress the leaden gasket or packing-ring, which becomes jammed againsta shoulder in the socket, and around the end of the entering section,both inside and outside. To make this rotation forcibly, speedily, andeft'ectually, I employ the jack B.

The frame of the jack straddles and rests upon the socket end of sectionA, a lug, a, on the latter entering a notch or depression in the saddleof the jack, to keep the section A from turning when force is applied toturn section C. His the rack-bar of the jack, acted upon bya pinion, I,and ratchet-lever J. K is a pawl, which engages the ratchet to hold therack-bar to an attained elevation when the lever J is again raised totake a new hold. In this case the pawl ,L on the lever J slips Ifadditional power is required, a hydraulic jack may be applied in anypreferred way, or other power may be used. To a stud, M, on the rack-baris attached the end of a chain, N, which has one turn around the sectionC, and then hooks over a lug, c, thereon. As the rack-bar H is raisedthe strain on the chain rotates the section G, and brings it rmly andcompactly against the gasket or packing, which is compressed thereby, soas to form a tight joint. The ratchet is then released, the rack-bardepressed, and the chain unshipped. This being done, the jack is tippedover into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, its wheels Rresting on the section of pipe just laid, and is thus drawn along, thepipe C forming a track therefor. This is much more convenient thanlifting the jack from its seat and carrying it to the next station; anda still greater saving in time and power is effected by the convenientand powerful means for rotating one section by the jack which rests uponand anchors the other section.

To unscrew a section the twisting-chain is simply applied, so as toreverse its action.

To close a terminal end, whether of a straight section or branchapeculiar deadend, P, is provided. This is constructed on the saineprinciple as the entering end of a section as regards one part of thescrew or bayonet coupling, and with a lug, p, on its periphery to engage with the twisting-chain N. The plug D is also constructed withcouplinglugs to secure it against accidental withdrawal.

The employment of the screw or bayonet joint, made by means of apower-jack, obviates any necessity for fires and the handling of meltedlead, except in special cases. The pipe can also be laid in water, ifnecessary, as in inarshy ground and in trenches which have beenpartially filled by rains.

N o enlargement ot' the trench is necessary, as for the accommodation ofworkmen in running and calkin g the ordinary lead join t. The generalwidth of trench required is also the narrowest possible.

The joints are adapted to stand the greatest amount of pressure, andoffer no obstruction within the pipe. A less amount of lead per joint isalso required, and this is adapted to be prepared in quantity at thefoundry. Mains can thus be laid with superior cheapquently with lessexpense and less obstruction' to business.

The following is claimed as new in this in- I lvention, namely:

l. The mode of coupling or forming joints of gas or water mains,consisting in providing the sections of pipe with the respectivemeinbers of a bayonet or screw joint, and with leaden gaskets orpacking-rings, and with external lugs a p, or their equivalents,bringing the parts loosely together by hand, and forcibly rotating theentering section by means of a twisting-jack, substantially as hereinspecied, for the purposes set forth.

2. The twisting-jack B, constructed with a deep saddle, and with a notchor Vdepression therein, in combination with a corresponding projection,a, on one section, A, which is thus held by this jack, while it supportsthe same during the application of the twisting strain to an adjoiningsection, C, as set forth.

3. The combination of the rack-bar H, chain N, and lug c, for thepurpose described.

4. The wheel or Wheels R, arranged on one of the vertical sides of thetwisting-jack B, and constructed with concave peripheries, incombination with the laid pipe, forming a track therefor, as means fortransporting the twisting-jack from point to point.

5. The combination of the adjusting and supporting jack F, having aswiveled stirrup, E, supported by a vertical screw, and the plug D,having a long cylindrical stem, D', with lugs or projections a c on thesections of pipe, and a twisting-jack, B, operating in connectiontherewith, as described, for laying streetniains by mechanical means, inthe manner specified.

6. The improved dead-end P, having one member of a screw or bayonetcoupling and an external lug, p, formed thereon, for use in combinationwith a twisting-jack, to temporarily stop or plug the outer end of `asection or branch, substantially as herein described.

ANDREW ONEILL. Witnesses J As. L. Ewnv, Ocrnvrns KNIGHT.

